Job candidates withdraw from final interview after hiring manager sends them an assignment that requires hours of unpaid work: ‘I find [it] very unprofessional’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Sep 17, 2025 1:00 PM EDT

How much unpaid work do you think you provided for all the companies you interviewed for?

The last time I was looking for a job, the assignment a company I was interviewing for gave me was to come up with ideas for their social media accounts. I came up with really funny ideas, if I do say so myself, so I was not surprised when they told me we were moving forward with the hiring process.

I was surprised when I looked at their social media account before the final interview and saw they used my idea and made it into a post. At first, I thought it was a good sign, an indication that I would get the job, but when they eventually told me they were going with another candidate, I was actually quite annoyed. Not only did they use my ideas, but they didn't even hire me. They took what they needed from me and tossed me aside, and I wish I had confronted them about it.

Similarly to what the job candidate in the story below did.

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  • During the final round of interviews, this candidate was sent an assignment that would require an ‘insane amount of work’ to complete. This made them realize that if this is the unpaid assignment, they don't want to know what the actual work looks like. 

    They also didn't hesitate to mention that when they withdrew the application…

  • 01
    Candidates Waiting for Job Interviews
    via monkeybusinessimages

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02

    I just withdrew from a final interview and told them why they are a walking red flag.

    I had a first interview that was somewhat okay with a big tech company. Honestly, from the beginning, I had a bad feeling.
    via drafty_spelt4p
  • 03
    Their office was in a nightmarish, isolated location with no public transportation access, and they wouldn't even pay for my car parking in their garage.
    via drafty_spelt4p
  • 04
    Their hybrid work model was only three days a week from home. They told me they needed to do a final round because all the applicants were at roughly the same level.
    via drafty_spelt4p
  • 05
    For this 'final round,' they sent me an assignment that was an insane amount of spec work.
    via drafty_spelt4p
  • 06
    They wanted me to create a full 15 to 25 minute presentation on a marketing strategy for a new product launch.
    via drafty_spelt4p
  • 07
    I've made complete slide decks for client pitches before, and I know very well that a good presentation takes hours of unpaid work.
    via drafty_spelt4p
  • 08
    This means only one thing: 'If you work here, we will expect you to work nights and weekends for free as if it's normal, and we won't value your time at all.
    via drafty_spelt4p
  • 09
    I thought about it for a day or two and then sent an email to the recruiter before the interview was scheduled: "I am withdrawing my candidacy for the position.
    via drafty_spelt4p
  • 10
    Although a final interview is normal, this type of test project requires a significant amount of unpaid work.
    via drafty_spelt4p
  • 11
    On top of that, your company did not pay for my car parking during the first interview, which I find very unprofessional."
    via drafty_spelt4p
  • 12
    Candidates Waiting for Job Interviews
    via Jovanmandic

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 13
    mroberte We need to start normalizing putting the companies that do this on complete blast. After 7 interviews over 3 months, an assignment, and getting very positive feedback from the process and the assignment, to then be ghosted and no further explanation of what happened. Thanks *Big Health*, I'm not your intern, and if that's what your looking for, go find one. These companies just want free work and want to waste our time. I'm glad you walked. Very good lesson learned. Kudos to you!
    via mroberte
  • 14
    chillmanstr8 Hybrid "only" 3 days a week? Isn't that typical?
    via chillmanstr8
  • 15
    BioShockerInfinite This is a fantastic framework: "This means only one thing: 'If you work here, we will expect you to work nights and weekends for free as if it's normal, and we won't value your time at all." I'm going to remember that one!
    via BioShockerInfinite
  • 16
    Throwawayhelp111521 Good for you.
    via Throwawayhelp111521
  • 17
    Rusty-P If you don't feel welcome during the interview process, you're really going to feel uneasy when they "own" you. Good job, it can be hard to say no, but you have to stand up for yourself. No one else is going to.
    via Rusty-P
  • 18
    Lastraven587 "Only three days a week from home" do you think hybrid is, that's on the better side. Most are one or two.
    via Lastraven587
  • 19
    Outdoors__Water Congratulations for knowing your self worth. These companies today not all of them but a lot of them are predators. They prey on those who they can manipulate and once you can't be manipulated any more your not a team player. Again good for you friend
    via Outdoors__Water
  • 20
    Zelenushka I respect the decision but 3 day WFH is as hybrid as it gets man
    via Zelenushka
  • 21
    MoveToPunta Gorda Good for you!
    via MoveToPunta
  • 22
    crispy_tofu_fryums wish I did the same for this sh a "luxury" automobile company, which instead of flying me out to the location, made me take a PTO on a day that was convenient for them and not me and kept questioning "oh but do you think you can do this job?" in all the 5 rounds in the contrinuous rapidfire 5 hr interview Mind you, the job that I did then and the job that I do now, are far more difficult than what I was interviewing with them for. Good for you OP!
    via crispy_tofu_fryums
  • 23
    goldencuriousity_ A recruiter has asked me to record a video of myself explaining a project in detail, kind of running a demo and send them the link to my recording a which needs to be on a public server so they can easily see. That is just to submit the application and enter the interview pool. When dis companies become so demanding even on pre interview steps? Should I do it?
    via goldencuriousity_
  • 24
    Olive Fun3608 Did they ever reply back to you after you let them know why you withdrew? I had a similar situation where a company wanted me to do a takehome project but only within a few hours despite it normally taking longer. Probably a red flag
    via OliveFun3608
  • 25
    Lopsided Tie7816 Most of your post makes sense except for the hybrid part, because 3 days wfh is pretty reasonable. If you are expecting more then it's basically a remote job.
    via Lopsided_Tie7816

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